June 30, 1950 - July 24, 2022
Ainslee Christine Young (nee MacQuarrie) passed away on Sunday, July 24th ,2022 after a short battle with cancer.
Ainslee was born on June 30th, 1950 in Saskatoon SK to Ernest and Grace MacQuarrie (nee McKeller). A military family, they moved to places like Edmonton AB, Ottawa ON, Chilliwack BC, Esquimalt BC, and even Germany. Ainslee's father ensured that Ainslee and her siblings travelled all over North America and Europe as kids while camping in their tent, which led to a lifelong love of camping and travel for Ainslee.
Ainslee was a talented pianist, and received her BMus from UVic in 1973 . While at university, she developed close friendships that lasted her entire life. She then grabbed her backpack and went travelling in Europe. While working in Scotland, she met a dashing young Glaswegian named Billy. The two began an entirely epistolary relationship when Ainslee returned to Canada and even became engaged through letters. Meanwhile, Ainslee finished up her Teacher's College studies at UWO.
On December 27th, 1975 Ainslee married Bill in Victoria BC. They started their life in Ontario, then moved to Red Deer AB in 1978 where they had both of their daughters, and made more lifelong friendships. After briefly moving to Calgary so Bill could attend university, the family moved to Medicine Hat AB for 16 years where Ainslee taught music at Connaught School.
Ainslee retired in 2005, and she and Bill moved first briefly to Chemainus, then Ladysmith BC. Ainslee worked as a teacher on call to help fund her travel addiction. Then in 2019, the Youngs moved to Comox BC to be close to their daughters.
Ainslee sang in and conducted multiple choirs over her life, which she truly loved. Her greatest loves were God, her family, the outdoors, music, and picnics in all kinds of weather (including snow). Ainslee is survived by her husband Bill, daughters Andria and Heather Young, sisters Margaret MacQuarrie and Marilyn (Jack) Wright, Aunt Joy McKeller, niece Christine (David) Jamieson and multiple well-loved cousins, great nieces and nephews and friends.
There will be a memorial for Ainslee at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would love for donations to go to the Comox Valley Hospice Society. They are eternally grateful for the kindness and feeling of security that the staff of the hospice at The Views and Aitken Community Hospice gave to Ainslee in order to allow her to have such a wonderful final month (filled with picnics and laughter).